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Update: Climber Found Unresponsive at Rock Gym and Declared Dead

Update: The climber who died Monday has been identified as Mark Hesse. Hesse was a climber with notable first ascents around the world. He was also known for his efforts as a climbing activist and trail builder.

"A truly great guy, he will be missed," wrote Jim Donini on Supertopo. "Mark was a fixture with his trail building crews at Indian Creek. The approaches through fragile desert would be a true mess but for his efforts. A sad day for the climbing community."

Hesse's cause of death is still unknown at this time.

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A climber was declared dead Monday, January 27, after being found unresponsive at the Boulder Rock Club in Boulder, Colorado. According to the Daily Camera, the cause of death is still unknown and the climber was bouldering alone when the incident occurred.

Mitchell Byers of the Daily Camera reports: "Around 2 p.m., staff and other climbers at the Boulder Rock Club heard what they thought was a person falling and found a male who appeared to be in his mid-60s unresponsive on the floor, according to John Bicknell, a co-owner of the Boulder Rock Club."

According to the Daily Camera, Boulder Rock Club staff members performed CPR on the man until paramedics arrived on scene. He was then transferred to the Boulder Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Due to the lack of witnesses, it is still unclear whether or not the fall was a catalyst in the man's death or if the cause was a medical issue.

The man's identity has not yet been released and an autopsy and investigation is underway to determine the official cause of death.

"Everybody at the Boulder Rock Club is saddened and shocked by this," Bicknell told the Daily Camera.

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